Maryland Men’s Basketball Coach Gary Williams served as Grand Marshal and addressed the participants before the race. “Autism affects so many families. I have taken it as a personal mission of mine for the past several years, ever since the son of one of my former players was diagnosed. With the prevalence of the disorder now at 1 in 110–and even more commonly in boys–this disorder has to become everybody’s cause.”

The Voice of the Redskins, Nationals, and Terrapins, Johnny Holliday, thanked the students and families for coming out to share the beautiful spring day. . . as a cold rain drenched the participants. Despite the weather, the event had record attendance and reached a new fundraising high of $23,500. Much of the credit goes to event chair Jordan Adler and his brothers at Sigma Phi Epsilon, along with Sigma Kappa, Alpha Phi, and sponsors Dignity Memorial, Bagel Place, Atlanta Bread, and Maryland National Capital Parks & Planning Commission.

We’re excited to host this Autism Speaks U 5k at the University of Maryland again next year!